Physician Assistant (Cardiology)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Physician Assistant for Fayetteville, NC, with entry to full performance level responsibilities across PA-I to PA-III. The role emphasizes independent patient care, collaboration with specialists, and adherence to VA KSAs.

Eligible applicants may participate in the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) with loan repayment up to $200,000 and varied eligibility periods. A strong PA foundation and licensure are required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or a Bachelor's with 1 year PA experience.
• Pass PANCE and hold or will hold an unrestricted license.
• PA grade determination requires KSAs and experience as described.

Responsibilities

• Lead and organize patient care independently within multidisciplinary teams.
• Apply advanced PA knowledge to diagnose, treat, and manage patient care.
• Collaborate with health professionals to improve patient outcomes.

Skills

PA practice

Patient history & exam

Treatment planning

Autonomous patient care

Education

Master's degree in any discipline or Bachelor's with PA experience

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

• Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~
• Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

Physician Assistant-I (PA-I):

Experience and Education.

None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

The following list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA. This practice may include, but is not limited to:

• Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
• Ability to perform patient history and physical.
• Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
• Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.

Physician Assistant-II (PA-II):

Experience and Education.

The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below. Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving. Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by:

• Two years of successful practice as a PA. OR
• Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency. OR
• A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

• Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
• Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
• Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
• Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.

Physician Assistant-III (PA-III):

Experience and Education.

PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multi-disciplinary teams, and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system. They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities, may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs, and may provide training for health care students. Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by:

• Three years of successful practice as a PA. OR
• Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA. OR
• A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

• Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
• Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).
• Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials.
• Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.
• Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.
• Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records.

Preferred Experience:

Two or more years of clinical practice managing patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions including coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertensin, hyperlipidemia, arrhythmias, valvular disease, and cardiomyopathies. Demonstrate ability to independently management a patient panel, develop care plans, and adjust treatment strategies using evidence based guidelines. Experience performing and interpreting cardiac diagnostic studies, including ECGs, ambulatory monitors, echocardiography, and stress testing. Prior work in interdisciplinary team, showing effective collaboration with cardiologist, hospitalists primary care, nursing, and ancillary services. Experience delivering care in outpatient, inpatient, and virtual/telehealth settings, including electronic consultations and coordinated follow‑up care. Demonstrate leadership in quality improvement, patient safety, or performance improvement initiatives at the clinic, panel or program level. Strong skills in population health, chronic disease management, risk factor modification, and prevention-based cardiovascular care. Experience educating patients, families and healthcare staff and participation in professional development or teaching activities. Proven ability to maintain professional communication, teamwork, and customer service standards in high‑volume clinical environment. Familiarity with VA policies, documentation standards, and regulatory compliance.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 03. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 1 to 3.

Physical Requirements:

This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by physician assistant such as physical assessment, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include but are not limited to:

• Significant amounts of time standing assisting patients
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols